Fluid dispenser



Nov. 21, 1967 F. J. FUCHS, JR 3,353,716

FLUID DISPENSER Filed Oct. 11, 1965 a Sheets-Sheet 1 34 "I1 I 36 [n v 33.26

l v 42 i i 1 l I I I l6 //vv/vm9 FRANCIS J. FUCH5',JR,

A QRN XQ.

Nov. 21, 1967 F. J FUCHS, JR

FLUID DISPENSER Filed Oct. 11, 1965 III/I/l/II/IlI/I/ 5 Sheets-Sheet 2YIIIIIII'N Nov. 21, 1967 F. J. Fuc'Hs, JR

FLUID DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. -11, 1965 FIG. 7

COLOR CODE CHART United States Patent 3,353,716 FLUID DISPENSER FrancisJ. Fuchs, Jr., 9 University Way, Princeton Junction, NJ. 08550 FiledOct. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 494,497 6 Claims. (Cl. 222-132) The presentinvention relates to a fluid dispenser and, more particularly, to afluid dispenser for controllably dispensing a combination of paints ofseveral different colors in a precise volumetric relation, regardless ofthe total volume dispensed, so as to provide a predetermined ratiobetween all component paints dispensed and therefore to produce adesired color and quantity.

It will be understood that the term fluid is used not only in itsgenerally understood sense, but is also used with the intent ofincluding viscous, or semi-viscous, mixtures, such as, but not limitedto, paints, syrups, lubricants, etc.

The primary method of mixing artists paints to obtain a desired color,has for centuries consisted of placing a quantity of basic colors on apalette in different locations and then using a brush or palette knifeto experimentally take small amounts of several basic colors and scrubthem together on the palette until the desired color appears. Thismethod is not only extremely time consuming, but also has a number ofother disadvantages: it is very difficult to arrive at the desired colorprecisely, and only very proficient artists can closely duplicate anobserved color;

the amount of paint in the mix at the time the desired color is reachedmay be too small, making it necessary to mix another batch, or theamount may be too great, making it necessary to wastefully discardpaint. Furthermore, when painting a large area of one color, it is oftennecessary to leave the painting and come back several days later tocontinue. This necessitates setting up a new palette and remixing acolor. Since the paint has dried on the painting, it is now virtuallyimpossible to arrive at a duplicate color as the paint changes slightlyin color on drying.

In the past, the major effort made to overcome these difliculties hasbeen to produce more and more different colors of paints packaged inindividual tubes. Such proliferation of numbers of colors has resultedin the use of many different compounds, many of which are incompatiblewith each other. This incompatibility has been the cause of yellowingand cracking of many valuable works of art.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the invention to provide a newand improved fluid dispenser.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved artistpaint dispenser for controllably dispensing a combination of only asmall number of different colored artist aints in a precise volumetricrelation so as to provide a predetermined ratio between the dispensedpaints regardless of the total volume dispensed, and therefore, producethe desired color.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fluid dispenserfor varying the amounts dispensed from the dispenser in accordance withthe requirements of a particular formulation, such as, a particularpaint formulation.

An embodiment of the present invention includes a four-compartment paintdispenser which can be easily loaded with paint without any morepreparation and activity than the mere removal of the cap from the painttube and the plug from the paint compartment, the insertion of the tubeinto the paint compartment, and squeezing. Only four paint compartmentscan yield satisfactory results since any and all colors from the mostdelicate shades of off-whites to black, can be obtained from only fourbasic colors: white, ultramarine blue, cad- 3,353,716 Patented Nov. 21,1967 mium red, and cadmium yellow, all of which are compatible colors.

The color and quantity of the paint to be dispensed is preciselydetermined by adjusting control dials individually associated with eachpaint compartment. The dispenser is then operated to feed out the properpaint mixture in any quantity from zero to the entire amount of paintstored in each compartment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paint dispensercapable of accurately controlling the amount of each color of paintdispensed regardless of any differences in viscosity between the colorsof paint.

Various other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description thereof given in connection with theaccompanying drawings, which show the construction of one embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 1 is a view of the top of the sliding cap of the dispenser showingthe volume control dials and the calibration numbers.

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the paint dispenser with portions cut away toreveal the Working parts.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the bottom of the sliding cap showing thecam structure.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the rod and piston assembly with partsbroken away.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a cap used to cover the dispensernozzles.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the dispenser nozzle block.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a color-code chart.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a modified dispenser nozzle block whichmay be used with the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a base member or plate 10 towhich are suitably secured the upper ends of four tubular members 12.The lower ends of the tubular member 12 reside within counterbores 14formed in a nozzle block 16, as may be best seen in FIG. 6. The nozzleblock 16 is secured to the plate 10 by a rod 18 which extends throughthe plate and is provided with threads at its lower portion for threadedengagement with the nozzle block 16. The tubular members 12 providechambers or paint compartments for receiving the different coloredpaints.

A cap 20 is mounted slidably on the plate 10 and is provided with fourinternally threaded bores 22 which receive, in threaded engagement, fourvolume control knobs 24. Each volume control knob is provided at itslower extremity with a circular or flange-like portion 26, as may beseen in FIG. 2, and with an indicating mark or groove 27 for alignmentwith any one of four numbers formed on the cap 20 locatedcircumferentially of the knob. Each number is indicative of a differentvolume or amount of paint to be dispensed. The volume control knobs arerotatable within the threaded bores 22 for alignment with any one of thesurrounding numbers.

Four lever-like cams 30 are mounted pivotally within the cap 20 by dowelpins 32 extending through the sides of the cap 20 and apertures formedin the leftward end of the cams 30, as viewed in FIG. 2. The rightwardend of each cam is provided with a groove or cut-out portion 33 forreceiving the flange-like portion 26 of a volume control knob 24; thelower portion of each groove, the portion on which the flange is seated,being rounded as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, as the adjustment knobs 24 arerotated, they move upwardly or downwardly within the cap 20 and,correspondingly, position the rightward ends of the cams 30 upwardly ordownwardly.

The plate 10 is provided with a detent 35 to which is secured one end ofa tension spring 34; the other end of the spring being secured to adetent 36 provided on the cap 20. Thus, when the cap 20 is moved to theleft with respect to the base member 10, or from its initial rightwardposition as shown in FIG. 2, for example, by the application of asuitable and manually applied force, the spring 34, upon the removal ofsuch force, will be effective to return the cap to its initial position.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, a rod and piston assembly, indicatedgenerally by the numerical designation 40, is provided within eachtubular member 12. The assembly is comprised of a piston rod 42, andpiston 50 and a seal 60. The piston rod 42 is provided with an enlargedhead 44, the top of which is rounded, and projecting outwardly from thehead, is a radial projection 46.

Surrounding the piston rod 42, slidably, is the piston 50 made, forexample, of hardened steel. The piston 58 is shaped generally like aninverted cup, and is provided with an inverted conically tapered innerbore 52.

Also surrounding the rod 42, are discs 54 and 56, made of some suitablematerial, such as plastic, and provided with a radial cut-out portion,or split, such as the split 58 of disc 56. The radial split permits eachdisc to lightly pinch the rod 42 such that frictional'forces cause thediscs to move with the rod. The diameters of the discs are dimensionedsuch that the discs can be accommodated within the tapered bore 52 ofthe piston 50.

Disc 56 is provided with downwardly extending and diametricallyopposite, projections or bosses 57, whose utility will be set forthfully infra.

A plurality of spherical members or balls 59, made of some suitablematerial such as steel, are assembled circumferentially around the rod42 within the tapered piston bore 52 and between the discs 54 and 56.The halls are of such diameter that when the rod 42 is rotated and moveddownwardly, the balls are moved downwardly by the disc 54 against thedisc 56, and are pinched or wedged between the rod 42 and the inwardlytapered inner wall of the piston 50. This pinching or-wedging actionlocks the piston 50 to the piston rod such that downward motion of therod 42 is imparted to the piston 50. When the balls are not so wedged,i.e., when they are loosely or freely residing within the tapered bore52, no locking action occurs and, hence, the motion of the rod 42 is notimparted to the piston 50.

Encircling the rod 42, below the disc 56, is the main pistonsealindicated by the general numerical designation 60; the seal 60 beingmade of some suitable material such as a relatively soft elastomermaterial. The upper portion of the seal is provided with an inwardlyformed shoulder 62 which snaps into a complementary groove 64 formed inthe piston 50. The seal 60is provided internally with stepped shoulderportions 66 which define surfaces 68 and walls 70 and 72. (It beingunderstood that only onehalf of the seal is shown in FIG. 4 and that theother half, not shown, is also provided with a stepped shoulder 66, butwith its surface 68 and walls 70 and 72 diametrically opposite to thesurface 68 and walls 70 and 72, of the half shown in FIG. 4). The lowerportion of the seal is flared slightly outwardly at 74 to provide ascraping action against the inner walls of a tubular member 12.

When the piston 50 and the seal '60 are assembled, the bosses orprojections 57 of the disc 56, rest either upon the surfaces 68 andagainst the walls 70, or if the disc is rotated clockwise, as viewed inFIG. 4, the projections will clear the surfaces 68 and, when the disc ismoved downwardly, the projections will rest against the walls 72. Thus,when the projections are in the counter-clockwise position and restingupon the surfaces 68, the disc 56 will be raised sufliciently to preventthe balls 59 from being wedged against the inner walls of the piston 50and, hence, prevents locking action to occur between the piston 50 andthe piston rod 42. However, when the disc 56 is rotated clockwise by thepiston rod 42, and the projections 57 are not resting upon the surfaces68, the disc 56 can crop downwardly a distance sufiicient to allow theballs 59 to lock the rod 42 and piston 50 together.

Downward movement is imparted to the piston rods 42 by the cams 30 asthe cap 20 is moved leftwardly from the position shown in FIG. 2. As thecap is moved leftwardly, as described above, the cams 30 engage thepiston rod heads 44 and force the piston rods downwardly at rates anddistances determined by the respective downward positionments impartedto the right ends of cams 30 by the volume control knobs 24. Thus, itwill be understood that the carns 30 impart variable translationalmovement to the rod and piston assembly.

Summarizing briefly the action of the piston assembly 40, when thepiston rod 42 is rotated clockwise and moved downwardly slightly, thepiston 50 and rod 42 are locked together by the balls 59, and pumpingaction can take place upon continued downward movement of the rod. Whenthe rod is raised upwardly and rotated counterclockwise, the rod andpiston are not locked together and the seal and piston can be movedupwardly along the rod to permit filling of the tubular members 12 withpaint. The paint filling operation will be covered more fully infra.

It will be understood that the terms clockwise and counter-clockwise,when used in describing the directions of rotation imparted to thepiston rods 42, are merely used in the relative sense for purposes ofdescription, and that the piston operation described, with suitablemodifications, would work exactly the same with the directions ofrotation reversed.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the piston rod heads 44 reside upwardlyagainst zero-set, threaded plugs which determine the upward positionmentof the rods 42. The plugs 78 reside within complementary threaded boresformed in the cap 20 directly over the tubular members 12, and areprovided with hexagonal recesses 80 which are adapted to receivecomplementarily-shalped hexagonal tools which may be employed to rotateand, hence, raise or lower the plugs 78. The zero-set plugs are adjustedsuch that at such time the pivot point of the cams 30 are over thecenterline of the piston rod heads 44, the balls 59 will have been moveddownwardly the precise distance required to lock the rods 42 to thepistons 50. Thus the zero-set plugs permit mass production of suchdispensers by permitting individual adjustment of the rods to theirassociated cams 3t).

Conically wound springs 82, FIG. 2, are mounted between the plate 10 andthe underside of the piston rod heads 44. Thus, as the piston rod headsare depressed by the leftward movement of the cams 30, the springs 82are depressed downwardly, and as the cams 30 retreat under the influenceof spring 34 to the rightward position as shown in FIG. 2, the springs82 will return the piston rod heads, and hence the rods 42, to theirupward positions. Adjustment of the zero-set plugs 78 controls the upperpositioning ofthe rods 42 and, hence, determines the amount of freedownward movement of the rods 42 before the balls 59 lock the rods tothe pistons 50.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the manner in which the alternate clockwise andcounter-clockwise movement, or reciprocating rotational movement, isimparted to the piston rods 42, will be set forth. The underside of thecap 20 is provided with a plurality of earns 86 and 88 which'extenddownwardly a distance sufiicient for the cams to engage the radialprojections 46 formed on the piston heads 44. When the cap 20 is movedto the left as viewed in FIG. 1, the cams 88 will engage the radialprojections 46 and rotate the piston rods 42 clockwise approximately 30.Such clockwise rotation of the piston rods, and associated discs '56,will, as described ab-ove,move the disc projections 57 off the surfaces68 of the seals 60, and will permit the initial downward movement of therods and discs 54 to wedge the balls 59 against the inwardly taperinginner walls of the pistons 50, and, hence, lock the pistons to thepiston rods and thereby cause pumping action to occur by the downwardmovement of the seals 60. As the cap 20 and cams 30 are returned by thespring 34 to the rightward positions shown in 'FIG. 2, the springs 82move the piston rods 42 upwardly, and the rods move the discs 54 and 56upwardly within the tapered bores 52 of the pistons 50. The upwardmovement of the discs 56 move the balls 59 upwardly within the taperedbores and thereby unwedge the balls from between the piston rods 42 andthe inwardly tapering walls of the pistons 50, and thus unlock thepistons from the piston rods. Furthermore, the upward movement of disc56 is suflicient to raise projections, 57 above the level of surfaces,68.

Near the end of the rightward movement of the cap 20, the cams 86 engagethe radial projections 46 and rotate the piston rods counter-clockwiseas viewed in FIG. 1. This counter-clockwise movement is imparted to thediscs 56 and the projections 57 are moved back upon the raised surfaces68 of the seals 60.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the nozzle block 16, shown in cross section, isprovided with paint discharge passages 92 which lead from the bottom ofthe tubular members, or paint compartments 12, to the exterior of thepaint nozzle 16. The paint discharge passages 92 are directed towardeach other at convergent angles and emerge in close proximity to eachother on the surface of the nozzle such thatstreams of paint emergingfrom the paint passages will tend to impinge and partially mix with eachother.

The paint nozzle 16 is also provided with bores 96 which receive freelythe ends of pistons rods 42, keeping them central of the tubular members12, and which bores are in communication with threaded openings 102. Theopenings 102 receive complementary threaded plugs 104 which may beprovided with, for example, hexagonal recesses 106 for receiving asuitably shaped tool to impart rotation to the plugs and, hence, insertor remove the plugs 104 from the openings 102. The threads of openings102 are complementary to the thread size and length of the threaded endsof a standard 37 cc. artists oil paint container 108, shown in dashedoutline in FIG. 6, and such as is generally produced by the variouspaint manufacturers and sold at art and paint stores.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a nozzle cap 110 provided withpartially spherical shaped protuberances 114, and which cap may beutilized to prevent drying of paint within the dispenser While it is notbeing used and which prevents paint from emerging from the tubularmembers 12 during the paint loading operation. More specifically, theprotuberances 114 of the nozzle cap 110 are dimensioned so as to snaptightly up into the paint discharge pass-ages 92.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a paint color code chart 120which is comprised of a large number of horizontally associated pairs ofsquares, such as, for example, the squares 122 and 124. Typically, thesquare 122 would be colored a predetermined color and its associatedsquare 124, would contain a code number of four numerical digitsarranged quadrantly or in a square pattern, with each digit representingthe setting of an associated adjustment knob 24 provided on the cap 20.For simplicity and ease of setting, the numerical digits in square 124are arranged quadrantly, or in a square pattern, corresponding to thequadrant or square pattern arrangement of the volume control knobs, asshown in FIG. 1. Thus, it will be seen that a simple numerical code canbe utilized to define a particular color.

It has been found that after only moderate use of the dispenser, thevarious color codes bring quickly to the users mind a particular color.Further, changes in a particular code of one or two digits providesinterpolation between colors and thereby provides shades of more colorsthan would ordinarily appear on such a color chart as chart 120.

Utilizing four digits to define a color, the color chart 120 wouldconsist of 364 different colors ranging from black to white. It ismanifest, that the adjustment knobs 24 could be calibrated for greaternumbers of settings, for example, if the knobs were calibrated from zeroto nine, the colors possible would number in the thousands.

A typical chart may be readily made with colors pro- 6 duced fromvarious color settings corresponding to the loading of various coloredpaints into the dispenser. Furthermore, blan-k color charts, providedwith no colors in the squares 122, but with numbers in the squares 124,could be utilized by an artist to record samples in the appropriatesquares whenever the artist uses a color made from paints of his ownchoosing and loaded into the dispenser.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown a modified nozzle block 16 whichmay be used with the present invention. The paint discharge passages 92are provided with restricted portions 130 and check valves comprised ofspherical members or balls 132 and springs 134. One end of each ofsprings 134 is anchored by a pin 136 spanning the discharge passage 92,and the other end of the spring extends through the constriction 130*and is suitably secured to the ball 132.

When paint is not being discharged through a passage 92, the tensionalforce of the spring is sufficient to pull the ball 132 tightly againstthe constriction 130 such that paint cannot leak or drip out through thepassage.

However, when pumping action is taking place as described above, thepaint is forced through the paint passages with sufficient force toovercome the tensional force of the spring 134. The paint engages theball 132 with sufficient force to extend the spring 134 and move theball downwardly into the lower enlarged portion of the paint passage,thereby, permitting the paint to flow around the ball and out of thepaint discharge passage.

Loading and operation The loading and operation of the fluid dispenserwill now be explained in detail.

The loading of the paints into the fluid dispenser may be done quitesimply and very neatly. Typically, each paint compartment is loaded witha ditferent colored paint and in the following manner.

Preliminarily, it will be understood that the cap 20 will be be in itsrest, or rightward position, under the influence of spring 34, as shownin FIG. 2, with the cams 86 having rotated the piston rods 42 to thecounter-clockwise positions such that the discs 56 are residing on thesurfaces 68 and, hence, holding the balls 59 upwardly in the taperedbores 52 and in a non-locking position. Thus, the seals 60 and pistons50 are freely movable upwardly of the piston rods 42. Also, the nozzlecap will be in place on the nozzle 16 with the protuberances 114plugging or stoppering the paint passages 92.

A plug 104 will be removed, as described above, and the threaded end ofa tube of paint, such tube 108 of FIG. 6, well screwed into a threadedopening 102. The tube is then squeezed manually to cause paint to emergefrom the tube and flow through a paint passage 96 into a paintcompartment or chamber 12, and thence up against the bottom of a pistonseal 60; the seal will be resting near to the bottom of a paintcompartment having been moved there by the prior paint pumping action ofthe dispenser. The pressure of the paint entering the paint compartmentwill cause the piston and seal to move upwardly until the paintcompartment is filled, and, since the piston was initially near thebottom of the paint compartment, very little, if any, air will betrapped in the paint compartment. In fact, if on the completion of theprevious paint dispensing operation, paint is residing within the paintpassages 9'2, and the nozzle cap is snapped into place at such time,virtually all air will be displaced and the paint loading operations cantake place without the entrapment of virtually any air in the paintcompartment 12.

It will now be assumed that each of the four paint compartments of thefluid dispenser is loaded with a paint of a color corresponding to oneof the four digits, one through four, or numbers used on the color codechart of FIG. 7. The operator would now inspect the chart to find thedesired paint color which, it will be assumed, is to be found in square122 of FIG. 7. The operator will observe the color code contained insquare 124 and will rotate the volume control knobs 24 to set themcorrespondingly. It will be noted that since each number or digit ofthecolor code in the present example is different, each volume controlknob 24 will have a different setting and,

hence, each knob and associated cam 30, will be adjusted downwardlydifferent amounts or distances.

The nozzle cap 116 will be removed and the fluid dispenser will begrasped with one hand with the fingers encircling the tubular members12, and with the thumb placed against the rightward end of the cap 29;the thumb will then move the cap leftwardly, FIG. 2. The cams 88 willengage the piston head projections 46 rotating the piston rods and discs56 clockwise and causing the projections 57 to move off the surfaces 68,thereby moving the balls 59 downwardly against the inwardly taperinginner walls of the pistons 50, thereby wedging the balls between thepiston rods and the inner walls of the pistons and locking the pistonsto the piston rods. The cams 30, having previously been individually andselectively rotated downwardly predetermined distances corresponding tothe individual selective adjustment of the volume control knobs 24, willengage the piston heads 44 and move the piston rods downwardly atdifferent rates and different distances corresponding to the differentcam settings. The pistons 50, now locked to the piston rods 42, will bemoved downwardly corresponding distances, and will move the piston sealscorrespondingly downward to force different volumes of paints out ofeach paint compartment corresponding to the amounts of downward movementof the piston assemblies 40. Thus, the different paint colors will bedispensed in precise volumetric relation, regardless of individualviscosity, so as to provide a predetermined ratio between the componentcolors and, therefore, a desired color. The quantity desired is readilycontrolled by the number of times, or the fractional portion of onetime, the cap is operated leftwardly in the manner described above.

Furthermore, it will be noted that the ratio of the dispensed paintvolumes will be constant regardless of the total volume dispensed. Morespecifically, it will be noted that the ratio of the respective downwardpositionments of the cams 30, and hence the ratio of the respectivedownward movements imparted to the piston rods 42, will remain constantregardless of the amount of leftward movement of the cap as viewed inFIG. 2.

Upon the release or removal of the thumb from the cap 20, the spring 34will return the cap and associated structure to the rightward or initialposition shown in FIG. 2. The earns will be moved off the rods, heads44, the springs 82 will return the rods 42 (not the pistons and seals asdescribed above) to their upward or initial positions, and the cams 86will engage the rod head projections 46 rotating the rodscounter-clockwise to move the disc projections 57 back over the surfaces68.

The paints will be forced through the paint passages 92 at convergentangles tending to impinge and mix, and will be directed onto, typically,an artists palette where they may be further mixed together.

Since the pistons are now unlocked from the piston rods, and since thepistons are mounted loosely on the 'rods 42, and the disc 54 and 58 andseals 60 are only in light frictional engagement with the piston rods42, the pistons and seals will remain at their downward positions withinthe paint compartments while the piston rods are moved upwardly of thepistons, discs and seals, by the spring 82.

Thus, it will be understood, that as the cap 20 is moved successivelyleftwardly and rightwardly, the pistons, discs and seals will be moveddownwardly within the paint compartments in successive steps orincrements.

Thus, if after using the present fluid dispenser, several days elapsebefore the artist returns to the canvas, the identical color used daysbefore can be reproduced by filling the paintcompart-ments with the samecomponent colors, setting the volume control knobs as before, andoperating the fluid dispenser as described above.

It is manifest that many changes and modifications may be made in thepresent embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid dispenser which comprises:

a fluid compartment provided with a fluid discharge passage;

a rod and piston assembly positioned in said compartment;

means for imparting reciprocating rotational movement including a pairof cams alternately engageable with said rod; and

selectively adjustable means for selectively imparting variabletranslational movement to said assembly to cause said assembly to forcevariable amounts of fluid out of said discharge passage, including aselectively pivotable cam, and a selectively adjustable memberoperatively connected to said cam for selectively pivoting said cam inaccordance with the amount of fluid to be forced out of said dischargepassage;

upon movement being imparted to said cam, said cam being engageable withsaid rod to impart said variable translational movement thereto.

2. A fluid dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said rod and pistonassembly includes, means for alternately placing said piston into andout of operative engagement with said rod upon said alternate rotationalmovement being imparted to said rod.

3. A fluid dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said rod and pistonassembly includes:

a piston surrounding loosely said rod and having formed therein aninverted conically shaped bore providing inwardly tapering inner walls;

said piston having a groove formed in the outer wall;

a pair of discs residing within said bore and surrounding said rod inlight frictional engagement;

said discs being positioned on said rod in upper and lower relationship;

said lower disc being provided with a pair of downwardly extending,diametrically opposed projections;

a plurality of spherical members arranged circumferentially around saidrod within said bore and normally held loosely between said discs;

a seal surrounding said rod below said piston and being in lightfrictional engagement with said rod;

said seal being provided with 'a shoulder for frictional engagement withsaid piston groove and with inwardly formed shoulder portions definingraised surfaces;

said disc projections normally residing upon said raised surfaces;

upon said rod being rotated in one of said alternate directions, saiddisc having said projections formed thereon, being rotatable with saidrod to move said disc projections off said raised surfaces therebypermitting said upper disc to move downwardly with said rod within saidtapered bore and to force said spherical members downwardly against saidlower disc and outwardly against said inwardly tapered walls of saidpiston so as to wedge said spherical members between said rod and saidinwardly tapered walls and thereby lock said piston to said rod;

upon downward translational movement being imparted to said rod by saidcam, said piston and said seal being movable downwardly with said rod toforce fluid out of said fluid discharge passage;

upon said rod being rotatedin the other of said alternate directions,said lower disc being rotatable with said rod to return said discprojections up onto said raised surfaces and to force said sphericalmembers and said upper disc; upwardly in said tapered bore 9 therebyunwedging said spherical members and unlocking said piston from saidrod; and

said piston, upon being unlocked from said rod and having upwardtranslational movement being imparted thereto, being movable upwardly ofsaid piston and seal.

4. A fluid dispenser, for dispensing a plurality of volumes of differentfluids in precise volumetric relation regardless of the total volumedispensed which comprises:

a plurality of fluid compartments each provided with a fluid dischargepassage;

an assembly, including a rod and piston, positioned in each compartment;

means for imparting reciprocating rotational movement to said rod;

means, responsive to said reciprocating rotational movement, foralternately connecting said piston into and out of operative engagementwith said rod; and

selectively adjustable means operatively associated with each rod andfor selectively imparting variable translational movement to said rodsand tosaid pistons, when operatively connected to said rods, to causesaid pistons to force variable amounts of fluid out of said fluidpassages.

5. A paint dispenser for dispensing a plurality of volumes of differentcolored paints in precise volumetric relation regardless of the totalvolume dispensed, and in accordance with a predetermined formulation soas to provide a predetermined ratio between said dispensed paint volumesand produce a predetermined color of paint, which comprises:

a base plate;

a cap slidably mounted on said base plate;

a nozzle block;

a plurality of paint compartments secured between said base plate andsaid nozzle block;

said nozzle block being provided with a plurality of paint dischargepassages directed toward each other at convergent angles and placingsaid paint compartments in communication with the exterior of saidnozzle block;

an assembly, including piston rod, piston and seal,

provided within each of said paint compartments;

said piston surrounding loosely said rod and having formed therein aninverted conically shaped bore providing inwardly tapering inner walls,and said piston having a groove formed in the outer wall;

a pair of discs provided within said bore surrounding said rod in lightfrictional engagement and being positioned on said rod in upper andlower relationship;

a plurality of spherical members arranged circumferentially around saidrod Within said bore and normally held loosely between said discs;

said seal surrounding said rod below said piston and being in lightfrictional engagement with said rod;

said seal being provided with a shoulder for frictional engagement withsaid piston groove, and with inwardly formed shoulder portions definingraised surfaces;

said disc projections normally residing upon said raised surfaces;

a plurality of pairs of fixed cams secured to said cap with each pairbeing engageable with a rod and for imparting alternate rotationalmovement thereto upit? on said cap being slid in opposite directions onsaid base plate;

upon said rods being rotated in one of said alternate directions, saiddiscs having said projections formed thereon being rotatable with saidrod to move said disc projections off said raised surfaces therebypermitting said upper discs to move downwardly with said rods withinsaid tapered bores and to force said spherical members downwardlyagainst said lower discs and outwardly against said inwardly saidtapered Walls so as to wedge said spherical members between said rodsand said inwardly tapered walls and thereby lock said pistons to saidrods;

a plurality of cams pivotally secured to said cap and individuallyassociated with said rods;

a plurality of volume control knobs rotatably secured within said capand individually operatively associated with said pivotable cams;

said knobs being individually rotatable settable in accordance with apredetermined paint color formulation, and upon being rotated, beingmovable upwardly and downwardly predetermined distances within said capand operable to individually pivot said cams predetermined distances;

said pivotable cams being engageable with said rods,

upon sliding movement of one direction being imparted to said cap, andfor individually imparting downward movements of predetermined distancesto said rods, and to said pistons and seals when said pistons areoperatively connected to said rods, to cause said pistons to force saidseals downwardly predetermined distances corresponding to the settingsof said knobs, and hence, to force volumes of paint out of said paintcompartments and through said paint discharge passages in precisevolumeric relation so as to provide a predetermined ratio between allcomponent paints dispensed from said paint dispenser;

upon said rods being rotated in the other of said a1- ternatedirections, said discs having said projections formed thereon beingrotatable with said rods to move said disc projections back upon saidraised surfaces thereby forcing said spherical members and upper discsupwardly within said bores so as to unwedge said spherical members andthereby unlock said pistons from said rods; and

a return spring surrounding each rod and operable to move said rodsupwardly of said pistons and said seals and return said rods to theirinitial upward positions within said paint compartments.

6. A paint dispenser according to claim 5 wherein each said paintdischarge passage is provided with a check valve comprised of a springand ball.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 228,866 6/1880 Cawker 22248 X1,921,912 8/1933 De Phillipps 222391 1,945,849 2/ 1934 Ferrandino 2223632,756,530 7/1956 Nelson 22294 2,848,139 8/1958 Chiantelassa 222 X2,940,483 6/1960 Mossberg 222134 X 3,135,467 6/1964 Greenm'an 2394l4 X3,162,217 12/1964 Poli et al. 222-309 X 3,242,881 3/1966 Schafer 222 XRAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner,

4. A FLUID DISPENSER, FOR DISPENSING A PLURALITY OF VOLUMES OF DIFFERENTFLUIDS IN PRECISE VOLUMETRIC RELATION REGRADLESS OF THE TOTAL VOLUMEDISPENSED WHICH COMPRISES: A PLURALITY OF FLUID COMPARTMENTS EACHPROVIDED WITH A FLUID DISCHARGE PASSAGE; AN ASSEMBLY, INCLUDING A RODPISTON, POSITIONED IN EACH COMPARTMENT; MEANS FOR IMPARTINGRECIPROCATING ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT TO SAID ROD; MEANS, RESPONSIVE TO SAIDRECIPROCATING ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT FOR, ALTERNATELY CONNECTING SAIDPISTON INTO AN OUT OF OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ROD; AND